Beau Anthony Weiley, 23, appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday over allegations he had pushed a woman and threatened her in front of her children.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated assault, but changed his plea to guilty for a lesser charge of common assault.

During the hearing, the court heard how the woman “feared for her life” after Weiley came onto her property in August last year, assaulted her and threatened to shoot “her and her dogs”.

Accompanied by another man, Weiley left the property before police arrived.

The victim formally identified Beau Anthony Weiley as the man who assaulted her and he was located by police the following day and taken into custody.

He was charged with assault and trespassing.

During a police interview, Weiley said the woman was “full of s**t” and denied being at Hadspen at the time of the incident.

The second man allegedly involved in the incident was never identified or charged.

On Tuesday the prosecution pushed for a term of actual imprisonment, insisting the defendant was not a first time offender “who made a silly mistake”.

His history showed he had previously been sent to prison over two common assault matters in 2014.

Defence lawyer Grant Tucker agreed his client’s history of offending was “very serious”, but suggested any jail term should be backdated and suspended, with Weiley already in custody on Supreme Court matters.

Mr Tucker said Weiley was using his time in prison to better himself, working in the woodworking shop and planning to undertake vocational training.

Magistrate Sharon Cure said he faced a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison, however, his time already served, his age and his behaviour while in custody were mitigating factors.

Weiley was sentenced to four months, backdated to April 22.

He was ordered to pay a victims of crime levy of $20.